-
Dangal
...may be confusingly cautious around popular notions on the parental front, but in the matter of sporting achievement it does not mince words: silver is second best, it tells us unequivocally, and there is nothing wrong in aiming for gold.
Dec 2016
-
Talaash
Have you ever watched a film and felt it had everything going for it, yet something didn’t quite add up? That you weren’t blown away despite liking so many individual elements in it? That’s how I felt as I left the hall after Talaash.
Dec 2012
-
Hindi Medium
The film’s achievement is that it tells us things we already know yet forces us to think about them, and has lots of fun while doing so.
May 2017
-
Jab Tak Hai Jaan
...fun first half; emotional despite its numerous flaws; and the ending did have me on edge; but … overly long and dull second half; incongruous casting; disappointing music.
Nov 2012
-
Rowdy Rathore
...is so hilarious that it almost made me forget everything that angried me in the film!
Jun 2012
-
Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga
Whoever said "well begun is half done" forgot to add that half done still means another halfway to go, and Saare Jahaan Se Mehnga doesn't manage that journey. This is a sweet film, but it should have been so much more.
Mar 2013
-
Sep 2012
-
Airlift
...is Argo with a split personality, songs and questionable fidelity to facts.
Jan 2016
-
The Ghazi Attack
...70% cracking suspense (which is remarkable since we know the outcome from the start), 30% clumsy deshbhakti and mawkishness.
Feb 2017
-
Sep 2016
-
Bol Bachchan
His(Ajay Devgn) acting, his characterisation by the writing team, and the absolute and deliberate defiance of logic in the writing and delivery of his dialogues are what make Bol Bachchan worth a watch.
Jul 2012
-
Aiyyaa
If the story and characters had not been stretched so much, Aiyyaa could have been special.
Oct 2012
-
Rocky Handsome
...high on style and visual gratification, but low on substance and passion.
Mar 2016
-
Cocktail
...bubbly in the first half, boring in the second, pretending to be free-thinking but actually narrow-minded and stereotypical to the core.
Jul 2012
-
Holiday
The problem with Holiday is that the formulaic comedy and romance end up diluting the thriller that it is intended to be, while the entire film is weighed down by its senselessness.
Jun 2014
-
Jannat 2
...despite its many flaws, it’s only fair to say that Jannat 2 is a mildly entertaining even if unmemorable film.
May 2012
-
Apr 2016
-
Raees
The first half of Raees is supremely interesting and filled with promise. Besides, Shah Rukh Khan is a joy to watch in this new, exploratory innings of his career. The second half lets him down though. Style trumping substance is rarely a good thing for a film.
Jan 2017
-
Fitoor
The pain, the rejection, the searing desire for revenge, the all-conquering power of love – none of it is adequately conveyed in this film which, by the time its final scene rolled around, left me as cold and detached as Estella’s heart was when she first met Pip.
Feb 2016
-
Ishaqzaade
Discussing the music, cinematography and other technical aspects of Ishaqzaade seems superfluous considering the way the film’s fun and seemingly feminist first half is marred by its anti-women second half.
May 2012
-
Once Upon A Time In Mumbai Dobaara
The lasting impression though is of a sliver of a project, not a fully fleshed out film.
Aug 2013
-
Saat Uchhakkey
...stands out for its excellent casting, excellent acting and – when it is not self-conscious – excellent humour. Now if only that had been enough...
Oct 2016
-
ABCD - Any Body Can Dance - 2
If only a teeny bit more attention had been paid to the writing of ABCD 2, this could have been a great film. Well, even with its blemishes, it is remarkably entertaining.
Jun 2015
-
Happy Bhag Jayegi
Aziz obviously has a flair for comedy but he needs to work on it. What he desperately needed here was either more time and thought, or a co-writer to help him build on the starting blocks he set up.
Aug 2016
-
Traffic
Drama is intrinsic to these situations and to the larger, multi-cultural Indian reality, without the crutch of high-decibel songs or explicit moralising. If Team Traffic had understood that, this could have been a great film. As things stand, it is an uneven, unsatisfying ride.
May 2016
-
Tiger Zinda Hai
If you can see Tiger Zinda Hai for what it is, you too may not mind its unabashed blend of swag, silliness and schmaltz.
Dec 2017
-
Udta Punjab
It is a mystery why this film was allowed to come undone despite the tremendously gifted individuals involved and the extreme poignancy plus conviction of the first half.
Jun 2016
-
Phillauri
Too many Hindi films are lost to the curse of the second half. Fortunately for Phillauri, its affliction is the exact opposite.
Mar 2017
-
Satyagraha
There are places where Satyagraha is truly compelling, heart-wrenching and unpredictable, but too much of the time, it defies probability and is just too painful to the ears.
Aug 2013